Men's Soccer

Men's Soccer Advances to Elite Eight

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Will Weatherly's seventh goal of the season came in the fifth minute of the first overtime to lift No. 6 Santa Clara to a 3-2 victory over No. 12 Coastal Carolina in the third round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday afternoon at Buck Shaw Stadium.

The game-winner off Weatherly's foot came off a throw in from the left side that was taken by Matt Upton. The throw slid across the box and deflected off a Coastal Carolina defender on to the waiting foot of Weatherly who one-timed the ball into the left side of the net for the Bronco victory.

SCU improves to 15-3-4 in 2003 while their all-time record in NCAA play goes to 19-11-4. The Broncos also saw their home unbeaten streak increase to 13 matches, with an 11-0-2 record during that time in a streak that dates back to September 26, 2002. Coastal Carolina's season ends with an overall record of 20-3-0.

Santa Clara's overtime victory was made possible by junior Jason Pan whose free kick with 3:57 remaining on the clock found the back of the net to tie the score at two apiece. His penalty re-start came from just outside the penalty area as he powered the ball into the right corner of the goal.

The Broncos knotted the score up at one apiece on freshman Tannen Wels' fourth goal of the season as he took a crossing pass from Will Weatherly and kicked the ball into the back of the net while sliding inside the six-yard box.

Coastal Carolina took an early 1-0 lead in the third minute of the game as Joshelp Ngwenya headed home a corner kick from teammate Randy Owen to begin the scoring onslaught. Ngwenya added his 21st goal of the season in the 72nd minute to take a 2-1 lead when he took a long ball from Chris Moore and beat two Broncos to the ball where he lobbed a shot over the oncoming keeper.

Despite being beat twice for goals, Santa Clara keeper Kent Harkness made three critical second half saves that kept the match close. Coastal's Andrew Paxton made five saves on the day, three of which were in the first half.

For the first time all season, the Chanticleers were out-shot in a match as the Broncos took 13, compared to only 12 for CCU. Coastal Carolina did take more in the second half and overtime periods, out-shooting the Broncos by a 10-5 margin in the final two stanzas.

With the win the Broncos advance to the fourth round of the NCAA for the first time since the 1999 season when they advanced to their second-straight College Cup appearance. Santa Clara will host the University of Michigan in the fourth round, Saturday evening at 7 p.m. in Buck Shaw Stadium. The 12th-seeded Wolverines advanced 4-3 in penalty kicks after ending regulation and two overtime periods tied at one goal apiece against 5th-seeded Notre Dame.